Microsoft layoffs hit the Bethesda and Halo teams

The recent round of Microsoft layoffs has affected the Bethesda team, makers of Starfield, and Halo Infinite creator 343 Industries. Despite announcing a year of record profits totaling approximately $83 billion, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the recent global downturn in the tech sector prompted the company to start laying off 10,000 employees across many of its divisions over the next several months.

Ubisoft cited the same downturn as an influential factor behind the company lowering its profit forecast and canceling several projects.

The announcement came exactly one year after Microsoft announced its intent to purchase Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. The deal is currently stalled as European agencies investigate its potential impact on labor and competition, while the FTC filed a lawsuit over similar concerns.

Microsoft didn’t announce exact numbers, and it’s unclear how the layoffs will affect Bethesda as it prepares to release two high-profile titles this year – Redfall and Starfield. Whatever the effects, former 343 Industries multiplayer designer Patrick Wren, who now works with Respawn, said on Twitter that the company’s leadership is entirely to blame.

“The layoffs at 343 shouldn’t have happened and Halo Infinite should be in a better state,” Wren said. “The reason for both of those things is incompetent leadership up top during Halo Infinite development causing massive stress on those working hard to make Halo the best it can be.”

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF